Dispenser for straws and similar articles having a reciprocable ejector



A ril 28, 1964 A. COLACINO DISPENSER FOR STRAWS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES HAVING A RECIPROCABLE EJECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 29, 1961 FIG.

INVENTOR ACHILLE COLAC 1N0 ATTORNEY I A. COLACINO 3,130,866 DISPENSER FOR STRAWS vAND SIMILAR ARTICLES HAVING A RECIBROCABLE EJECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 mm m 0 3 m T N ===E!ML x \\n t v I l 2 w 3 x ir; f 4 w H N L T 4 r F m 2 s? G. T g H g a .gmw lhwufw. In I E Z i 0 M 2 4 m H l M. M. m B 1 v 2 r, a M 7 a X 7 2 Flu B 2 8 a v I April v2s, 1-964 Fil'e d March 229, I961 ATTORNEY FIG.5

United States Patent 3,130,866 DISPENSER FOR STRAWS AND SIMILAR ARTI- CLES HAVING A RECIPROCABLE EJECTOR Achille Colacino, 247 Pike St., Carbondale, Pa. Filed Mar. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 99,131 2 Claims. (Cl. 221274) This invention relates to dispensers for soda straws and other elongated articles particularly of fragile character enabling such articles to be stored and dispensed singly by simple but efiicient structure under strictly sanitary conditions.

Numerous dispensers for soda straws and similar articles have been suggested in the prior art. Some are too complex and expensive. Others do not always maintain single straw delivery. Still others do not insure nonuser contact with the straws other than he will use. Others do not prevent return of straws to the dispenser. Other and further disadvantages of prior art structures have been experienced.

Among the objects of the present invention is a dispenser of simple, inexpensive structure, which prevents more than single straw delivery, insures against non-user contact with straws other than that delivered for his use, and gives maintenance under sanitary conditions.

Other and further objects and advantages will appear from the more detailed description set forth below for purposes of illustration and not limitation, since changes within the scope and spirit of the present invention may be made by those skilled in the art.

In connection with that more detailed description, the drawing shows the following. FIGURE 1 is a perspective elevation of the invention with cover raised and side wall partly broken away to expose the assembly. FIG- URE 2 is a vertical central section of the device of FIG- URE 1, taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1. FIGURES 3 and 4 are sections on lines 3--3 and 44 of 'FlG- U-RE 2, and FIGURE 5 is a section on line 55 of FIG- URE 4.

In accordance with the present invention, the dispenser lfor soda straws or other elongated articles particularly of fragile character, utilizes a structure where a simply devised storage chamber positions a single article into delivery position by gravity so that such positioned article is alined with a delivery outlet. Not more than a single article may be in delivery position until the positioned article has been moved almost completely from the dispensing container. This latter delivery is completed by the user and it is his only possible contact with the articles so that no article is touched by the user except that which he will use thus maintaining sanitary conditions for later users. The movement of the article into dispensing position takes place by gravity as soon as the dispensing means returns to its initial position preferably by spring action upon release, and the dispensed article has been almost completely removed from the container. Thus the dispenser is immediately and automatically restored to operative dispensing position. Since the device is particularly useful for delivery of soda straws it will be illustrated by such use without limitations since other elongated articles such as pencils, pens, etc., may be dispensed.

Considering the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, container 1 with hinged cover 2 and outlet 3 through which the straw is delivered to the user upon his manipulation of operating lever 4. Upon such manipulation the straw extends externally of container -1 through opening 5 offset from outlet 3 to avoid any interference with such delivery.

Storage of a number of straws or other articles and gravity positioning of a single straw, etc., in dispensing 3,130,866 Patented Apr. 28, 1964 ice position is readily and simply accomplished. Parallel narrow members 6 spaced apart somewhat less than the length of article 7 dispensed, may be suspended from hangers 8 for spaced members 6, the hangers being attached on opposite side walls 9 of container 1. Each such spaced member may in addition rest on block '10 having groove 11 provided for that purpose. Parallel members 6 may each be formed with upper storage portion 12 widely separated side portions 13. These curve downwardly at 14 to form and communicate with lower narrow vertical slot-like portion 15 formed between downwardly depending leg members 16 separated a distance somewhat greater than the width of straw 7 to permit free vertical movement of straws successively in slot-like portion 15 singly one above another as shown at 17 without jamming. In this way a stack of horizontal straws is formed in direct contact with the slot-like portion and adapted to be dispensed singly, to and through outlet 3 which is alined with the bottom-most straw supported in slot-like portions 15. The construction of storage space and stack alinement is simple and inexpensive but assures single straw delivery as well as automatic replacement of straw for subsequent delivery. The structure may be used with any type of appropriate dispensing means so that it may replace prior art structures.

A dispensing mechanism illustrated herein is particularly shown in FIGURE 2. Straw 7 in delivery position, has end 18 extending inwardly of inner spaced parallel member 6 a distance equal to that necessary to move the straw out of outlet 3 sufiiciently to be grasped by a user for removal from container 1. The dispensing means includes reciprocable strap 19 having end 20 with perforation 21 and upstanding flange 22. The latter is initially placed in position just behind and adapted to engage against end 20 of straw 7. Strap 19 extends rearwardly through guide slot 23 in wall 24 (held in position by plate 24' attached to side walls 9) to contact member 25 which engages against coil springs 26 within housings 27 placed between wall 24 and rear end 28 of casing 1. It will be seen that when strap 19 is pulled forwardly, flange 22 will move straw 7 through outlet 3.

For that purpose, link 29 with eye 30 attached at perioration 21 to strap 19, extends through guide passage 31 in inner support block 10 forwardly of guide post 32 where it is formed with loop 33. Operating lever 4 extends through opening 5 within casing 1 past guide post 34. Its inner portion 35 is right angularly offset to form arm 36 of a length to lie securely within loop 33 on link 29. Arm 36 may be of any length and serves to offset lever 4 away from the straw delivery outlet 3.

it will thus be apparent that when lever 4 is pulled outwardly, link 29 will be moved to force flange 22 to dispense straw 7 through outlet 3. As soon as lever 4 is released it is spring returned to normal position ready for the next delivery. But until dispensed straw 7 is almost completely removed from the casing by a prospective user, the next straw cannot move into position for dispensing.

Having thus set forth my invention, I claim:

1. A dispenser for soda straws and other elongated articles particularly of fragile character comprising a container, a pair of parallel narrow strap members suspended interiorly of the container and spaced apart less than the length of the articles, each strap member having separated upper portions forming an upper storage supply portion and then curving smoothly toward each other and depending vertically downward to form a lower narrow vertical slot portion having a width greater than the cle to be dispensed to permit free vertical movement of the articles successively into the slot portion one above another without jamming to form a stack of horizontally disposed articles retained Within said slot portion and adapted to be dispensed singly, an article dispensing outlet in said container aligned with the bottom-most article in said stack, dispensing means including a reciprocable member positioned beneath said slot portion and aligned therewith, said reciprocable member including an upstanding flange extending into alignment with the inner extremity of the bottom-most article when in normal inoperative position and upon reciprocation adapted to move said bottom-most article into outlet position, said reciprocable member also including a forwardly directed link terminating in a looped extremity, an offset operating lever for imparting linear motion in a horizontal plane to said reciprocable member, said ofiset operating lever including an angularly directed arm extremity, and spring means for returning said dispensing means to normal inoperative position.

2. A dispenser as set forth in claim 1 in which the spring means comprises parallel springs located one on each side of the reciprocable member and cooperating therewith for the smooth return of said reciprocable memher to inoperative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 14,209 Baldwin Oct. 31, 1916 503,396 Cochran Aug. 1, 1893 586,940 Vanderpool July 20, 1897 695,789 Burden Mar. 18, 1902 1,139,365 OConnor May 11, 19 15 1,513,248 Johnson Oct. 28, 1924 1,637,767 Delano Aug. 2, 1927 1,918,956 Belt July 18, '1933 2,202,578 Friemering May 28, 1940 2,862,644 Johnson Dec. 2, 1 958 

1. A DISPENSER FOR SODA STRAWS AND OTHER ELONGATED ARTICLES PARTICULARLY OF FRAGILE CHARACTER COMPRISING A CONTAINER, A PAIR OF PARALLEL NARROW STRAP MEMBERS SUSPENDED INTERIORLY OF THE CONTAINER AND SPACED APART LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF THE ARTICLES, EACH STRAP MEMBER HAVING SEPARATED UPPER PORTIONS FORMING AN UPPER STORAGE SUPPLY PORTION AND THEN CURVING SMOOTHLY TOWARD EACH OTHER AND DEPENDING VERTICALLY DOWNWARD TO FORM A LOWER NARROW VERTICAL SLOT PORTION HAVING A WIDTH GREATER THAN THE ARTICLE TO BE DISPENSED TO PERMIT FREE VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF THE ARTICLES SUCCESSIVELY INTO THE SLOT PORTION ONE ABOVE ANOTHER WITHOUT JAMMING TO FORM A STACK OF HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED ARTICLES RETAINED WITHIN SAID SLOT PORTION AND ADAPTED TO BE DISPENSED SINGLY, AN ARTICLE DISPENSING OUTLET IN SAID CONTAINER ALIGNED WITH THE BOTTOM-MOST ARTICLE IN SAID STACK, DISPENSING MEANS INCLUDING A RECIPROCABLE MEMBER POSITIONED BENEATH SAID SLOT PORTION AND ALIGNED THEREWITH, SAID RECIPROCABLE MEMBER INCLUDING AN UPSTANDING FLANGE EXTENDING INTO ALIGNMENT WITH THE INNER EXTREMITY OF THE BOTTOM-MOST ARTICLE WHEN IN NORMAL INOPERATIVE POSITION AND UPON RECIPROCATION ADAPTED TO MOVE SAID BOTTOM-MOST ARTICLE INTO OUTLET POSITION, SAID RECIPROCABLE MEMBER ALSO INCLUDING A FORWARDLY DIRECTED LINK TERMINATING IN A LOOPED EXTREMITY, AN OFFSET OPERATING LEVER FOR IMPARTING LINEAR MOTION IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE TO SAID RECIPROCABLE MEMBER, SAID OFFSET OPERATING LEVER INCLUDING AN ANGULARLY DIRECTED ARM EXTREMITY, AND SPRING MEANS FOR RETURNING SAID DISPENSING MEANS TO NORMAL INOPERATIVE POSITION. 